Warnings Issued On Dried Whitefish

August 25, 1985

Health officials Saturday warned consumers who may have purchased a Russian-style whitefish known as Kapchunka not to eat the product but to return it to the store where it was purchased. The salted and dried fish specialty has been linked to the botulism deaths last week of an elderly New York couple, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA ordered the product removed from four North Side Chicago food stores on Friday. However, a spokesman for the city Department of Health said health inspectors were unable to reach all the stores before closing time. Saturday`s warning was issued after two storeowners told authorities they already had sold their supply of the product. Stores that carried the fish were identified as: A&B European Food, 2032 W. Devon Ave.; Three Sisters Deli, 2854 W. Devon Ave.; Regina`s, 2642 W. Devon Ave.; and Kashtan, 2740 W. Devon Ave. A spokesman for the FDA said Three Sisters and Kashtan had sold their supply before the recall. City health inspectors seized the fish remaining at the other stores for testing.